outside the mandela home, south african president went on live television and broke the news to his country. >> fellow south african, our beloved nelson mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation has died. >> the news was followed by president obama at the white house. >> we've lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings any of us will share time with on this earth. he no longer belongs to us. he belongs to the ages. >> part of ap emotional appearance late today by president obama in the white house briefing room. nbc news correspondent based in south africa was outside the mandela home when the news broke and remains there tonight and ro hip, all night tonight we have seen video of people gathering to sing and celebrate the life of nelson mandela, while it's important to remember a lot of south africans are still going to wake up to the sad news in the morning. >> reporter: that's right, brian. it is in credcredibly early in morning here, almost 2:00 o'clock and many south africans haven't heard the news yet. a few hundred of those who have c